Part 1 Study Schedule

UPSC Prelims is highly unreliable and takes a huge chunk of your time and hence deters your chance of topping . Once you clear it , weather by scoring just the cutoff or topping it , doesn't matter , all qualified aspirants are again at the same level , because prelims is qualifying . So the aspirant who prepares in a pre-planned and cleaver manner , leaps away far ahead at this initial stage from the aspirant who gave his/her everything to prelims in the last 3-4 months.

Coming Straight to the Point What is Pre Planned and Clever manner of Studying?

The things which I am going to write are not new , many said it but very few follow it .

We assuming the following

1. You have 12 Months [ You are not enrolling in Coaching.]
2. You read News Daily and make notes .

Consider This exam as Just One Exam , not 3 [ prelims Mains Interview].Consider you only have one exam UPSC Civil Service Mains .
As you know there are 4 GS Papers , 2 Papers of an optional and Essay .
[ I am leaving the language part ]

Prepare a schedule and start completing the basics of GS papers and Optional on war footing .Read 6 days revise on Sunday , do not read new things on Sunday [or any day you pick for revision ] , again in next week read 6 days and revise in 1 day the syllabus you completed in last 12 days . Keep repeating the schedule until you reach a point where one day of revision is not going to cut it any more . Add one more day , now the schedule is read 5 days and revise the total completed syllabus in 2 days . Follow this pattern for 4months .

As you know UPSC Mains is a Super set of Prelims .

After 4 Months of above schedule Change Your Tactics .
For the next 2 months You will Prepare all the relevant Current Affair till date and Solve all the Previous Year Prelims Questions , but you keep the revision window of 2 days open every week. You read current affair and solve the previous year questions minutely focusing on each question , each term that has been asked in upsc prelims till now .

Also You Will find the same news compiled in a concise manner in Vision IAS Monthly Current
Affair which is free [ You can download it from their website or from xaam.in / xaam.org / xaam.us]

Now At the End of sixth month . You Are going to change Your study Plan again . Now Read 7 days and revise 7 days . The revision will of course include everything you have read till now.

The Key to clear upsc is the ability to write and revise . You can master both with practice .

Continue this next 4 Months by this time you would have read and revised almost everything in the syllabus .

As you have 2 months left for pre, Read for 2 days revise for 5 days do it for one month .
In The Last month you will revise the whole syllabus 4 times before you sit for prelims along with Mock test Practice and at least dedicate 2 hours daily for CSAT paper 2 [ Do not take anything for granted ] .

If You Follow The Above Schedule , After Finishing the Prelims while coming back to home you will be thinking about How to Tackle mains whereas other candidates will be worrying about cutoffs and scores and discussions .

After Pre you will be having 3 Months Time . Revise the whole syllabus in 10 days . Start writing mains test series preferably vision ias mains test series [ because they check the answers carefully ]
You Will again Pick the Read and revise schedule . Read / Write mains Mock tests / Solve Previous year mains questions 6 days and revise for one day. You continue this schedule till there is 2 weeks time left . As you have been revising in one day it will be easy for you to revise between mains papers as you know there is negligible gap . In the Last 2 weeks do a couple of one week revision .

Many will say It is an impossible schedule to follow , many will say this level of hard work is not required . But I know many will jump into UPSC 2017 Bandwagon and are ready to do anything to top this exam. This schedule is for them .
Direction less hard work doesn't work, at the end many aspirants choke because of the clutter of information .
To Sort this clutter you will have to arrange , revise , read and gauge yourself at regular intervals .

You Have Got your Answer How To Study , but the Main Question remains

What To Study ?

From Where To Study ?

Here Is the Detailed answer to your Questions .

Part 2 : Study Materiel and Book Source According to the syllabus :

MAINS GENERAL STUDIES PAPER - I

(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)TOPICS BOOKS & JOURNALS

1. Indianculture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature andArchitecture from ancient to modern times.References:

Indian Freedom Struggle of Independence – Bipin Chandra
Facets of Indian Culture - Spectrum Pub.
Indian Culture Chapter of Indian Year Book
Journals/Websites:
The Hindu, www.pib.nic.in, Yojana, The Indian Express, EconomicPolitical Weekly, Frontline

2. Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues.
References:
Indian Freedom Struggle of Independence – Bipin Chandra
“A Brief History of Modern India” – Spectrum Pub.
Indian Culture Chapter of Indian Year Book
Modern India History – B. L. Grover

3. The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors or contributions from different parts of the country.References:

12th NCERT – Politics in Indian after Independence.
4. Post-independenceconsolidation and reorganization within the country.References:

India since Independence – Bipin Chandra
India After Gandhi – Ramchandra Guha
5. Historyof the world will include events from 18th century such as industrialrevolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization,decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialismetc. - their forms and effect on the society.References:

9th & 10th NCERT – India and thecontemporary world
Mastering Modern World History – Normal Lowe
6. Salientfeatures of Indian Society, Diversity of India.References:

12th NCERT: Indian Society, Social change andDevelopment in India
Indian Social System – Ram Ahuja
Journals/Websites:
The Hindu, www.pib.nic.in, Yojana, The Indian Express, EconomicPolitical Weekly, Frontline, Kurukshetra
7. Roleof women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, povertyand developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.References:

11th NCERT: Physical Geogrpahy, World Geography by MajidHusain
Journals/Websites:
The Hindu, www.pib.nic.in, Yojana, Down to Earth(www.downtoearth.org.in), The Indian Express, Economic Political Weekly,Frontline, Kurukshetra
11. Distribution of key natural resourcesacross the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factorsresponsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sectorindustries in various parts of the world (including India).References:

Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong,
Around the World (Geography): ICSE Board Class (6, 7 & 8) or
OLD NCERT Books Class (6, 7 & 8)
12. Important Geophysical phenomena such asearthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical featuresand their location - changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.References:

Orient Longman Atlas

MAINS GENERAL STUDIES PAPER - II

(Governance,Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)TOPICS BOOKS & JOURNALS

11th NCERT Indian Constitution at work & IndianPolity by M. Lakshmi Kant, Constitution of India By PM Bakshi.
Journals/ Websites:
THE HINDU, PIB www.pib.nic.in, Yojana, Kurukshetra,The Indian Express, Economic & Political Weekly, Frontline.
2. Functions and responsibilities of theUnion and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federalstructure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challengestherein.
3. Separation of powers between variousorgans dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.References:

4. Comparison of the Indian constitutionalscheme with that of other countries.

5. Parliament and State Legislatures -structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. References:
Political Science by ND Arora, Public Administration By LakshmiKant.

6. Structure, organization and functioningof the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of theGovernment; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role inthe Polity.

11. Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations,donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.References:

IGNOU MPS-003 India: Democracy and Development.

12. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.References:

Indian Economy – R. Dutt & Sundaram
The Penguin Dictionary of Economics
Journals/Websites:
Economic Political Weekly
4. Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.References:

15. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
References:
12th NCERT: Political Science: Contemporary World Politics (Chapter : Security in the Contemporary World)
Annual Report 2011-12: Ministry of Home Affairs
Journals/Websites:
The Hindu, www.pin.nic.in, Yojana
16. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
References:
12th NCERT: Political Science: Contemporary World Politics (Chapter : Security in the Contemporary World)
2nd ARC Report (Public order Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution, Combating Terrorism)
India Year Book
Journals/Websites:
The Hindu, www.pin.nic.in, Yojana, The Indian Express, Economic Political Weekly, Frontline
17. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
References:
2nd ARC Report (Public order Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution, Combating Terrorism)
India Year Book
Manorama Year Book
Journals/Websites:
Ministry of Home Affairs (www.mha.nic.in)
18. Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
19. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

MAINS GENERAL STUDIES PAPER - IV

(Ethics,Integrity, and Aptitude)
TOPICS BOOKS & JOURNALS
This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered.
1. Ethics and Human Interface: Essence,determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics;ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
References:
2nd ARC REPORT - 4th Report & 10thReport.
New Horizons of Public Administration 7th Edition by Mohit Bhattacharya. Ethics and Accountability in Government and Business byRamesh K Arora. Ethics & Integrity in Public Administration: Concepts &cases By Raymond W. Cox.
Journals/Websites:
THE HINDU, PIB www.pib.nic.in, Yojana, The IndianExpress, Economic & Political Weekly, Economic Times.
2. Attitude: content, structure, function;its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
References:
Social Psycology by Baron,
Ethics by William K. Frankena.
Understanding Ethics by Noel Preston
Journals/Websites:
THE HINDU, PIB www.pib.nic.in, Yojana, The Indian Express, Economic Times.
3. Aptitude and foundational values forCivil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
References:
Indian Public Administration 3rd Edition by Rajni &Goyal.
IGNOU: MPA-011- Ethical Concern In public Administration.
Journals/ Websites:
Frontline.
4. Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
References:
Emotional Intelligence By Daniel Goleman.
Journals/ Websites:
Economic Times, Economic & Political Weekly, Frontline.
5. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
References:
2nd ARC REPORT – 1st Report & 12thReport.
Journals/ Websites:
Frontline.
6. Public/Civil service values and Ethicsin Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience assources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance;strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
References:
IGNOU: MPA-011-Ethical Concern In public Administration.
7. Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery,Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
8. Case studies on Above Issues